On 29 July, the Caux Palace opened its doors for 2018’s Open House Day. More than 150 visitors came to enjoy guided tours, a scavenger hunt, a human library and other activities. This sunny day was a chance for local visitors and tourists to learn about the unique history of the building and about the activities of Initiatives of Change.

What is the role of a journalist in a country at war? With many of his compatriots thinking that journalists should be information warriors, finding the answer to this question is an everyday struggle for Ukrainian journalist Oleksiy Matsuka. ‘Some of our readers expect us to defend our country. But we want to protect our independence as journalists. How can we make sure we don’t fall prey to propaganda as journalists in the middle of a war? How do we keep presenting information without bias?’

A primary school teacher from Belarus sits at the lunch table with an ex neo-Nazi from Sweden, who now works to prevent extremism among youngsters. ‘What can we do as parents and teachers?’ she asks him. They engage in a conversation about ‘kitchen table racism’ and the difficult position of teachers. The next day, two floors higher in the building, a group of Kurds, Turks and Armenians from the diaspora discuss how to organize an international platform for dialogue. A woman involved in dialogue in Eastern Ukraine pitches in with her experience of engaging the broader public.

‘We help people to find understanding, when they want to find understanding but don’t succeed.’ With this simple explanation, co-facilitator Angela Starovoitova captures the core objective of Non-Violent Communication (NVC) as a dialogue approach, at the opening of a four-day training track during Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business. She immediately manages expectations: ‘Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t.’ Co-facilitator Olena Kashkarova adds: ‘It is about hearing the real message behind words.’

Young Muslims and non-Muslims from Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey and the UK took part in the Learning to be a Peacemaker course at the Caux Palace in July.

Ilinca Romocea took part in 2018’s Young Ambassadors Programme, under the aegis of Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business, which brought together young Europeans who aspire to take an active role in transforming society. When Ilinca came to Caux for the first time in 2017, she met Ayat, a young Muslim woman. The encounter changed her profoundly.

Liliana Neciu, mezzo-soprano at State Opera in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, has taken part in two Caux programmes in 2017. Since then she’s been talking about Caux to everybody, from close friends and family members to work colleagues and people she meets through her professional life. This summer, she is returning to give freely of her time, cheerful nature and wonderful talents. On Thursday 26, 2018, Liliana and her friend, pianist Oana Dinea, are offering a free concert during Addressing Europe’s Unfinished Business (AEUB).